Can-opener.



CAN OPENER.

(Application filed Jan. 25, 1900.) (N0 Model.)

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NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BLUFORD F. PIN NELL, OF VIENNA, MISSOURI.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,273, dated August 7, 1900.

Application filed January 25, 1900. Serial No. 2,783. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BLUFoRn F. PINNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Vienna, in the county of Maries and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gan-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to can-openers, the primary object being to provide a device of this character of simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily manipulated to cut the top of a can and remove the severed portion thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a can-opener which will be readily adjustable to adapt it forcans of different sizes.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafter and defined in the appended claims, in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. l.

The reference-numerals 1 and 2 designate the semicircular sections of the device, provided at one end with a lug or arm 3 and 4, respectively, and at the opposite end with a handle 5 and 6, respectively.

7 designates a rack-bar secured at one end to or formed integral with the arm 3 of the section 1. The opposite end of the bar 7 extends through a slot 8 in the arm 4 of the sec tion 2 and is held in engagement with said arm 4 by a pin 9, secured at one end to the arm 4 in position to engage the teeth of the rack-bar.

10 and 11 designate cleats or brackets secured centrally to the armsl and 2, on the upper side thereof, and adapted to overlap the top edge of a can. From each of the cleats 10 and 11 depends a knife or cutter 12, each of which is formed at one side with a lug or shoulder 13. These knives may be formed integral with the cleats, as shown, or separate therefrom and secured removably in any suitable manner to facilitate renewing them when worn or broken.

One of the handles 6 is recessed at the point let and provided with a cutter 15 to serve as a supplemental opener for square cans or boxes.

The operation of the device is as follows: After the section 2 has been properly adj ust- 5 5 ed the knives are inserted into the top of the can, and by turning the sections a half-revolution the top is completely severed, and as it will rest upon the shoulders 13 it is readily lifted away from the can.

While the construction illustrated in the drawings is practical and efiective, I would have it understood that the invention is not restricted to all of the details shown, but includes all such changes or modifications as may properly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim- 1. A can-opener comprising a pair of semicircular sections, each having a lug or arm at one end and a handle at the opposite end; a rack-bar connecting the ends of the sections; cleats or brackets secured to the sections and adapted to overlap a can, and knives depending from said "cleats or brackets.

2. A can-opener comprising a pair of semicircular sections, each having a lug or arm at one end, and a handle at the opposite end; a rack-bar secured at one end to one of said lugs or arms, and passing through a slot in the opposite arm or lug; a pin secured to one of the sections and adapted to engage said rack; cleats secured centrally to the semicircular sections and knives depending from the under sides of the cleats.

3. A can opener comprising a pair of semi circular sections each having a lug or arm at one end, and a handle at the opposite end; a rack-bar connecting the arms of the sections; cleats projecting from the sections and knives depending from said cleats, and formed with laterally-projecting shoulders.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' BLUFORD F. PINN ELL.

-Witnesses:

J. T. PINNELL, E. M. BIRD. 

